"Just a pinch," Gela repeats, but she's smiling. They both know what the pinch of elfroot is for.

"It's a secret because if everybody knew it, they would also make it, and then I'd never come across the ingredients as handily as I usually do." And because it would keep her from gifting it to anybody, but she won't say that. It would sound awful aloud.

Something occurs to her when Lia asks her next question. Gela's smile drops off. "Are you worried about the taste? I promise it isn't so bad. You get used to it."